FREE
All ages & abilities welcome

Join us for the 3rd annual Vanka Block Party, a free community event featuring local food and drink, music, art making, tours, and more!

Made possible by the generous support of the Jack F. Buncher Foundation.

Indulge your senses with an evening of food, art, community, and music at the Vanka Murals. Enjoy a special dinner menu from Sprezzatura featuring both pescatarian and vegan options. In the sanctuary, Jennifer Baron of The Garment District/The Ladybug Transistor will be spinning Croatian records from her grandparents’ collection of original 78s, along some new finds, including 45s and LPs, while local artist Maggie Negrete creates zines for an all-ages scavenger hunt of the Murals. Vanka Tour Volunteers will be on hand to guide you through the stories of the Murals in this Open House.

A new way to engage with the Murals! Explore Maxo Vanka’s stunning work on an interactive tour, as we draw connections to Vanka’s depictions of love for humanity and justice.

Use this inspiration to create your own love letter as you craft and create one-of-a-kind cards to keep for yourself – or send to a loved one.

Each registration includes all necessary art materials and light refreshments. BYOB and art supplies welcome.

The two-hour session will take place inside St. Nicholas Croatian Church, both in the sanctuary and the Church Hall.

Holiday celebrations continue with the one-and-only Vanka Murals!  Enjoy pre-tour performances and a 60-minute docent-led tour surrounded by the splendor of the season.

Discover the stories behind these striking works—painted in 1937 and 1941—and how they reflect the lives of working-class Pittsburghers and be among the first to see the awe-inspiring results of recent conservation.

Guests will also be treated to homemade Croatian Cookies, and special merchandise.

Make a visit to the Vanka Murals part of your holiday traditions!

Join us for a festive, family-friendly 60-minute interactive tour crafted for young children and their families to explore history and art together. Set amidst the season’s lights and decorations, this multi-generational experience brings the Vanka Murals to life with hands-on activities for little ones.

After the tour, enjoy refreshments in the cozy church basement and connect with other families. All ages welcome, with up to three adults per child for an engaging experience.

Chatham Baroque returns to the Vanka Murals!

Featuring Pascale Beaudin (soprano) and an array of superb instrumentalists playing on violins, viols, and lutes, Chatham Baroque brings to life rarely heard jewels of music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and his predecessors.

Pre-concert Mural tour begins at 6:30 PM, concert begins at 7:30PM

Creative Happening

Thanks for joining us for the 2024 Vanka Sketching Sessions!

Together we took a closer look at four iconic Pittsburgh sites: Allegheny Cemetery with John Martine & Scott Brozovich, Carrie Furnace with Rick Landesberg & Laura Vinchesi, Allegheny Commons Park with Jourinoe (Dejouir Brown) & Juliandra Jones, The Vanka Murals with Jon Funari, Kate Lundy & Suzanne Werder.

Join us again in 2025!

These sketching sessions are made possible in part by a Mini-Grant from Rivers of Steel and DCNR

Creative Happening

Foraging the Murals

Flower Workshop & Tour

Sunday August 25th 3:30-5:30

This Creative Happening unfolds in two parts. First, join Vanka educator Maggie Negrete  as she guide guests through foraging the flowers depicted in the Murals. Participants will delve into the symbolism behind each flower that Maxo Vanka meticulously included in his Murals.

In the workshop portion, participants will explore the art of Tatakizome under the guidance of local fiber artist and passionate gardener, Amy Garbark. Tatakizome is an innovative technique that imprints the delicate details and vivid colors of flowers onto fabric. Each participant will leave with their own printed bag, filled with seeds of native species.

Creative Happening

The Millvale Music Festival

Friday, May 17 in the evening

• Music in the sanctuary
  Free for all ages

Saturday, May 18 from 11am-3pm

• Music in the sanctuary
  Free for all ages

Learn more at millvalemusic.org or check them out on Facebook.

Creative Happening

Family Button Making
at the Millvale Music Festival

Saturday, May 18 from 11am-3pm

• Join us at two locations — in the heart of the festival in Millvale and up the hill at the Vanka Murals.
• Free for all ages.
• Co-lead with our partners from the LIGHT Education Initiative.

This program is part of the Remake Learning Days. Read more at remakelearningdays.org or on Facebook.